Sera from hamsters bearing tumours induced by the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus (sr-RSV) contain antibodies to the avian leukosis group specific antigen and an antigen of chick origin. The ‘chick embryo antigen’ is found in chick embryos infected and uninfected with avian leukosis viruses and in chicken tumours induced by avian leukosis viruses; for example, Rous sarcoma wing web tumour and plasma from avian myeloblastosis virus infected chickens. The ‘chick embryo antigen’ has been detected in sr-RSV hamster tumour cells. Cultured chick fibroblasts do not contain the ‘chick embryo antigen’ and thus the avian-leukosis group specific antigen can be specifically detected by complement fixation using sr-RSV tumour-bearing hamster sera. This COFAL test is as sensitive as the Rubin interference test (RIF test) and unlike the RIF test will detect all known avian leukosis viruses.
CooperM. L.,
BlackP. M.1963; Cytogenetic studies of hamster kidney cells cultures transformed by the simian vacuolating virus (SV 40). J. natn. Cancer Inst 30:1015
DoughertyR. M.,
Di StefanoH. S.1966; Lack of relationship between infection with avian leukosis virus and the presence of COFAL antigen in chick embryos. Virology 29:586
EckertE. A.,
RottR.,
SchaferW.1964; Studies on the BAI strain ‘A’ (avian myeloblastosis virus). I. Production and examination of potent virus-specific complement fixing antisera. Virology 24:426
FurmingerI. G. S.1967; Increase of lactic dehydrogenase and neutralizing antibody in plasma of chickens infected with Rous sarcoma virus. J. gen. Virol 1:383
HanafusaH.1965; Analysis of the defectiveness of Rous sarcoma virus, hi. Determining influence of a new helper virus on the host range and susceptibility to interference of R,. S,. V. Virology 25:248
HarrisH.,
WatkinsJ. F.1965; Hybrid cells derived from mouse and man. Artificial hetero-karyons of mammalian cells from different species. Nature, Lottd 205:640
HuebnerR. J.,
ArmstrongD.,
OkuyanM.,
SarmaP. S.,
TurnerH. C.1964; Specific complement fixing viral antigens in hamster and guinea pig tumours induced by the Schimidt-Ruppin strain of avian sarcoma. Proc. natn. Acad. ScL, U.S.A 51:742
RubinM.1960; A virus in chick embryos which induced resistance in vitro to infection with Rous sarcoma virus. Proc. natn. Acad., Sci., U,. S,. A 46:1105
SarmaP. S.,
TurnerH. C.,
HuebnerR. J.1964; An avian leukosis group-specific complement fixation reaction. Application for the detection and assay of non-cytopathogenic leukosis viruses. Virology 23:313